When former Auburn football coach and candidate Tommy Tuberville visited the Shoal Republican club most didn’t expect it would be an event that would break much news.
But Tuberville seems to have been somewhat rattled by a sign implying he was a “carpetbagger” that was posted at the event. During the event, the 2020 US. Senate candidate ended up owning that he was in fact a carpetbagger.
“Yes, I’m not an everyday resident of Alabama,” he said. “That’s going to be brought up. I’ve been here most of the last 20 years. I’ve had property. So, you’ll see that on TV – ‘He’s a carpetbagger.’ Yeah, I’m a carpetbagger of this country. I love this country. I love this state. I’m a carpetbagger. I pay a lot of taxes. I brag about that because I’m fortunate I’ve made a little money in my lifetime. I can do this and not take any money.”
But that wasn’t the take away that Erick Erickson’s conservative website “The Resurgent” took from Tuberville’s statements at that meeting.
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1158385228064448513
Tuberville noted that he was “pissed off at Donald Trump” and promised to take it up with him if he ever gets to see him. He laid the 22 veterans who commit suicide daily at the feet of the current occupant of the White House.
Erickson wasn’t the only one who had a problem with this critique. Tuberville’s GOP primary opponent State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs) thinks Tuberville owes the president an apology.
Coach Tuberville is a good man, but he’s dead wrong about President Trump. Nobody loves our veterans more than Trump. Blaming Trump for veterans’ suicides is wrong. Coach Tuberville owes our President an apology. #alsen https://t.co/UjNgaXCtzj pic.twitter.com/I8n09SyP2A
— Arnold Mooney (@ArnoldforAL) August 5, 2019
Is this a fair criticism from Tuberville? Probably not.
Trump did talk about this issue, but it has also been an issue that has gone across multiple presidencies.
Trump also can take credit for serious reform to veterans’ healthcare, which will benefit veterans.
It would probably be better for us to talk about how we are going to take care of our veterans than trying to score points on the issue.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 am weekdays on WVNN.